Carburetor



Nov. 7, 1933. v R, MENDEZ 1,933,992

GARBURETR Filed March '7, 1932 Il nennen!- MS/wwwa Patented Nov. 7, 1933CARBURETOR Ricardo Mndez, Monterrey, Mexico Application March 7, 1932,Serial No. 597,398, and in Mexico September 29, 1931 1 Claim.

My invention relates to the use of natural gas and other similar gasesas fuel for internal combustion engines and particularly the engines ofmotor vehicles as well as to a carburetor for enabling the eicient useof such gas with such engines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a system and apparatusfor burning natural or other gas as fuel in internal combustion engines.

Many attempts have been made in the past to produce a satisfactorysubstitute for gasoline as a fuel for internal combustion engines usedin motor vehicles which will be cheaper than gasoline, but such attemptsand experiments have consistently met with failure.

While the use of natural and other gases has been suggested for use asfuel in internal combustion engines and while some attempts have beenmade to use the same, I know of no device or process before the presentinvention which has successfully employed natural or other gas as fuelfor multiple cylinder engines of motor vehicles or the like.

After careful studies of the physical characteristics of natural gaswith regard to its compression and its caloric value as a fuel, I havecarried out many experiments using this gas as a substitute for gasolinein internal combustion engines of motor vehicles.

In these experiments, substituting gas for gasoline, I have secured mostsatisfactory results, having found that the motor functioned fully aswell if not better as regards the output of power and speed when usingnatural gas according to my invention as compared to its operation ongasoline, while showing a marked economy in the cost of the fuelconsumed in favor of the gas, over any particular distance.

My experiments and observations have shown that,

lrDue to its capacity for compression, gas can be stored in greatquantities in a very small space 45 without adding any appreciableweight, thereby making gas as fuel for aeroplanes and boats as well asmotor vehicles highly desirable since quantities sufficient fortraveling great distances can be stored in such a restricted space.

2. Due to the nature of gas, the carburetor required to form thecombustible mixture can be greatly simplified as compared to carburetorsused on gasoline engines, thereby eliminating one of the chief sourcesof motor trouble.

3. Due to the composition of gas, the carbon deposited by its burning isnegligible as compared with the carbon produced by gasoline.

4. Due to the characteristics of gas, no heating apparatus is everrequired to facilitate starting of the engine in cold places.

5. The cost of gas consumed per horse power hour or over a givendistance traveled is considerably less than the cost of gasoline for thesame time or distance.

The apparatus employed in carrying out the objects of the presentinvention, the provision of means for successfully employing gas eithernatural or manufactured as a fuel for internal combustion engines willbe readily understood from the following detailed description of theinvention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention with a verticalsectional View of a preferred form of the carburetor employed therewith,and 75 Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 ofFigure 1.

Referring now more specically to the drawing, wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts throughout the same, 5 indicates a cup-shaped bowlor fuel receptacle of the carburetor. 6 indicates a gas intake includinga threaded nipple to which is connected a feed line F leading from asource of supply G of gas under pressure, there being a safetycheck-valve S and a pressure regulating valve P in said feed line tosupply the gas to said carburetor at a proper and constant pressure.

An auxiliary air intake 7 also leads into the bowl 5, there being acheck valve 8 normally seated by a spring 9 to prevent the escape of gasthrough the air inlet. The admission of air through the inlet 7 iscontrolled by a metering screw 10 which regulates the size of passages11 leading from the atmosphere to the inlet open- 95 ing 7.

The bowl or receptacle 5 is provided with a top or cover 12 secured to amarginal flange 13 at the top thereof by screws 14. This cover l2 isformed with a tubular duct 15 opening into the 100 bowl 5 at one end andadapted to have its other end secured to the intake manifold M of theengine (shown dotted), for the purpose of delivering the combustiblemixture of gas and air to the engine. The duct 15 is provided with anair 105 inlet duct 16 leading into the same above its juncture with thecover plate 12.

It will be noted that the diameter of the air inlet duct 16 isconsiderably larger than that of the duct l5 so as to permit a greaterpropor- 110 tion of air than gas to enter the cylinders of the motor.

Butteriy valves 17 and 18 are provided in the ducts 15 and 16respectively, for controlling the 5' passage of gas and airtherethrough, the valve 17 being operated by an arm 19 connected at oneend to the axle of the valve 17 and at its other end to the throttle rod20 so that operation of the throttle will open or close the butterflyvalve 17. An operating arm 21 for the valve 18 is adjustably connectedby a rod 22 to the arm 19 so that operation of the throttle to open orclose the valve 17 will result in a proportionate opening or closing ofthe air inlet valve 18.

The proportionate relation of the valves 17 and 18 may be adjusted bylongitudinal adjustment of the nuts 23-23 on the threaded end of the rod22. If desired, the air inlet duct may be placed in proximity to theexhaust pipe of the engine although this is not necessary.

My experiments have shown that the invention operates satisfactorilywith tank pressures from 250 pounds per square inch up, although thereis no reason to believe that the same will not operate satisfactorily atall pressures possible.

In operation gas from the pressure regulating valve P enters the bowl 5through the inlet 6 where it is mixed with a small amount of air drawnin through the inlet 7. A gas pressure of a few ounces has been found tooperate satisfactorily. This mixture then passes into the duct 15 wherea second mixing with a regulated amount of air entering through the duct16 takes place. The final mixture then passes into the intake manifoldand the respective cylinders of the engine as will be readilyunderstood. A cut off valve C operated from the dash D by a flexibleshaft L is provided in the feed line F.

At slow speeds the supply of air to the chamber 5 will be less than athigh speeds due to the difference in suction in the manifold atdifferent speeds. I have found that the proportion of air to gas can bevaried from approximately 70 per cent air and 30 per cent gas to 80 percent air and 20 per cent gas with good results, although these figuresare not to,be regarded as rigid limits.

If desired, my invention may be applied to motors so as to use eithergasoline or natural gas for fuel by providing two carburetors, one forgasoline and one for gas together with means for cutting either one orthe other off at the will of the operator.

It will readily be seen that my invention will be adaptable to allinternal combustion engines without altering the same in any way and itwill also be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise formof the invention as shown and described but that various changes in thedetails of construction and operation may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

In a mixer for utilizing hydrocarbon gas as a fuel for internalcombustion engines, a mixing bowl, a gas inlet connection at one side ofsaid bowl, an air inlet opposite said gas inlet, a spring seatedinwardly opening check valve normally closing said air inlet, a meteringdevice for regulating the size of said air inlet, a cover plate for saidmixing bowl, a gas duct carried by said cover leading from said bowl tothe intake manifold of an engine, an air inlet connection opening intothe duct intermediate the ends thereof, a butterfly valve in said ductbetween said bowl and air inlet connection, a butterfly valve in saidlast mentioned air inlet. and means for operating said valves in unison.

RICARDO MNDEZ.

